Lourdes Franco

The Sedative Effect of Non-Alcoholic Beer in Healthy Female Nurses

Introduction The hop (Humulus lupulus L.), a component of beer, is a sedative plant whose pharmacological activity is principally due to its bitter resins, in particular to the α-acid degradation product 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol. The mechanism of action of hop resin consists of raising the levels of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter acting in the central nervous system (CNS). Objectives To analyze the sedative effect of hops as a component of non-alcoholic beer on the sleep/wake rhythm in a work-stressed population. Methods The experiment was conducted with healthy female nurses (n = 17) working rotating and/or night shifts. Overnight sleep and chronobiological parameters were assessed by actigraphy (Actiwatch®) after moderate ingestion of non-alcoholic beer containing hops (333 ml with 0,0% alcohol) with supper for 14 days (treatment). Data were obtained in comparison with her own control group without consumption of beer during supper. Results Actigraphy results demonstrated improvement of night sleep quality as regards the most important parameters: Sleep Latency diminished (p≤0.05) in the Treatment group (12.01±1.19 min) when compared to the Control group (20.50±4.21 min), as also did Total Activity (p≤0.05; Treatment group = 5284.78±836.99 activity pulses vs Control = 7258.78±898.89 activity pulses). In addition, anxiety as indexed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) decreased in the Treatment group (State Anxiety 18.09±3.8 vs Control 20.69±2.14). Conclusion The moderate consumption of non-alcoholic beer will favour night-time rest, due in particular to its hop components, in addition to its other confirmed benefits for the organism.

Body weight gain in rats by a high-fat diet produces chronodisruption in activity/inactivity circadian rhythm

In the last few decades, obesity has become one of the most important public health problems. Adipose tissue is an active endocrine tissue which follows a rhythmic pattern in its functions and may produce alterations in certain circadian rhythms. Our aim was to evaluate whether the locomotor activity circadian rhythm could be modified by a hypercaloric diet in rodents. Two groups were considered in the experiment: 16 rats were used as a control group and were fed standard chow; the other group comprised 16 rats fed a high-fat diet (35.8% fat, 35% glucides). The trial lasted 16 weeks. Body weight was measured every week, and a blood sample was extracted every two weeks to quantify triglyceride levels. The activity/inactivity circadian rhythm was logged through actimetry throughout the trial, and analysed using the DAS 24© software package. At the end of the experiment, the high-fat fed rats had obese-like body weights and high plasma triglyceride levels, and, compared with the control group, increased diurnal activity, decreased nocturnal activity, reductions in amplitude, midline estimating statistic of rhythm, acrophase and interdaily stability, and increases in intradaily variability of their activity rhythms. The results thus show how obesity can lead to symptoms of chronodisruption in the body similar to those of ageing.

Quercus Suber L. Cork Extracts Induce Apoptosis in Human Myeloid Leukaemia HL-60 Cells.

Quercus suber L. cork contains a diversity of phenolic compounds, mostly low molecular weight phenols. A rising number of reports support with convergent findings that polyphenols evoke pro‐apoptotic events in cancerous cells. However, the literature related to the anti‐cancer bioactivity of Q. suber L. cork extractives (QSE) is still limited. Herein, we aim to describe the antitumor potential displayed by cork extractives obtained by different extraction methods in the human promyelocytic leukaemia cells. In order to quantify the effects of QSE on cancer cells viability, phosphatidylserine exposure, caspase‐3 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential and cell cycle were evaluated. The results indicated that the QSE present a time‐dependent and dose‐dependent cytotoxicity in the human promyelocytic leukaemia cells. Such a noxious effect leads these leukaemia cells to their death through apoptotic processes by altering the mitochondrial outer membrane potential, activating caspase‐3 and externalizing phosphatidylserine. However, cells cycle progression was not affected by the treatments. This study contributes to open a new way to use this natural resource by exploiting its anti‐cancer properties. Moreover, it opens new possibilities of application of cork by‐products, being more efficient in the sector of cork‐based agriculture. Copyright

Effects of oral administration of L-methionine on activity/rest rhythm

We describe a chronobiological study of the effects of the oral administration of the essential amino acid L-methionine to common quail ( Coturnix coturnix ). This amino acid is a precursor of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is responsible for controlling and maintaining wakefulness through the ventrolateral pre-optic area of the hypothalamus and controlling the REM sleep in the nucleus reticularis pontinus oralis (NRPO). The quail model was chosen as these birds are monophasic and active by day, as are humans. The animals were kept under a constant 12h:12h light/dark cycle, fed ad libitum and housed in separate cages equipped for activity recording. Methionine was administered daily (1 h before lights off) for 1 week (chronic treatment), with the birds divided into 4 groups: a capsule with 15 mg of L-methionine (Met15 treatment group); a capsule with 30 mg of L-methionine (Met30 treatment group); a capsule with methylcellulose as excipient (control group); no capsule (basal group). In addition, we compared the first day of treatment (acute experiment) with the basal and control results. Actimetry (DAS24) was used to quantify the activity data, and the sleep/wake rhythm was analyzed using the Ritme software package. The statistical analysis of the activity data was descriptive (+/- SD) and inferential (Tukey test). The data showed increased (p<0.05) mean diurnal activity pulses in the Met30 group versus the other groups in both the acute and the chronic experiments. No changes were found in nocturnal activity. The chronobiological analysis showed a significant increase in the MESOR parameter of the Met30 group in both chronic and acute experiments versus the other groups. The acrophase showed no significant changes, in all groups being at around 13:45 h. In conclusion, the oral administration of L-methionine increased diurnal activity; probably due to the stimulating neuromodulatory action of acetylcholine.

Extracellular heat shock proteins protect U937 cells from H2O2-induced apoptotic cell death

The cytoprotective role of heat shock proteins (HSPs) has been demonstrated in various cell types however, only few studies have investigated the role of extracellular exposure to HSPs in the survival of human lymphoma cell line U937. In the present study, we investigated the effect of extracellular exposure to four HSPs (HSP90, HSP70, HSP60, and HSP47) on apoptotic cell death induced by either oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide) or endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated intracellular calcium overload. It was found that extracellular exposure to HSPs reduced the cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide, but not that evoked by thapsigargin (a specific inhibitor of cytosolic calcium reuptake which is able to induce endoplasmic reticulum stress with subsequent intracellular calcium overload). Similarly, it was observed that exogenous HSPs were able to suppress the caspase-3 activation induced by hydrogen peroxide. These findings indicate that extracellular HSPs increase the resistance of human lymphoma cell line U937 to apoptotic cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide and diminish oxidative stress-mediated injures.

Activity/inactivity circadian rhythm shows high similarities between young obesity-induced rats and old rats.

The objective of the present study was to compare differences between elderly rats and young obesity-induced rats in their activity/inactivity circadian rhythm. The investigation was motivated by the differences reported previously for the circadian rhythms of both obese and elderly humans (and other animals), and those of healthy, young or mature individuals. Three groups of rats were formed: a young control group which was fed a standard chow for rodents; a young obesity-induced group which was fed a high-fat diet for four months; and an elderly control group with rats aged 2.5 years that was fed a standard chow for rodents. Activity/inactivity data were registered through actimetry using infrared actimeter systems in each cage to detect activity. Data were logged on a computer and chronobiological analysis were performed. The results showed diurnal activity (sleep time), nocturnal activity (awake time), amplitude, acrophase, and interdaily stability to be similar between the young obesity-induced group and the elderly control group, but different in the young control group. We have concluded that obesity leads to a chronodisruption status in the body similar to the circadian rhythm degradation observed in the elderly.

Effect of non-alcohol beer on anxiety: Relationship of 5-HIAA

Beer contains hop (Humulus lupulus L.) as flavoring and preservative. This cannabaceae plant, which possesses sedative and hypnotic properties, is present in non-alcoholic beer as well. Likewise regular beer, non-alcoholic beer includes the essential amino acid lysine with relaxing effects, which are related to the inhibition of serotonin receptors. It is known that the main neuroendocrine signal from stress is the release of the hormone cortisol, alongside with the altered levels of the hormone melatonin and the neurotransmitter serotonin. In this study we aimed to analyze the possible anxiolytic effect of non-alcoholic beer on neuroendocrine levels of cortisol, melatonin and serotonin, in a population under stress. To achieve this goal, a healthy student population was enrolled under the stressful conditions evoked by official academic exams. They consumed 1 non-alcoholic beer (330 mL) at dinner time for 14 nights. Melatonin, serotonin and cortisol levels were measured by quantifying their early morning urinary metabolites collected weekly. The consumption of non-acoholic beer reduced significantly the nocturnal serotonin levels whereas there were no substantial changes on melatonin and cortisol levels. However and in line with this, Anxiety/State parameters underwent a significant decreased after consumption of non-alcoholic beer at dinner time regarding to control values. These results point to the anxiolytic response of non-alcoholic beer is performed through the serotoninergic pathway. All in all, consumption of non-alcoholic beer might be an additional tool to deal with serotonin-related stress profile.

Effect of non-alcoholic beer on Subjective Sleep Quality in a university stressed population.

Sleep deprivation affects the homeostasis of the physiological functions in the human organism. Beer is the only beverage that contains hops, a plant which has a sedative effect. Our objective is to determine the improvement of subjective sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The sample was conducted among a population of 30 university students. The study took place during a period of 3 weeks, the first 7 days were used for the Control, and during the following 14 days the students ingested beer (were asked to drink non-alcoholic beer) while having dinner. The results revealed that Subjective Sleep Quality improved in the case of those students who drank one beer during dinner compared to the Control, this is corroborated by the fact that Sleep Latency decreased (p < 0.05) compared to their Control. The overall rating Global Score of Quality of Sleep also improved significantly (p < 0.05). These results confirm that the consumption of non-alcoholic beer at dinner time helps to improve the quality of sleep at night.

Assessment of the intake of tryptophan-enriched cereals in the elderly and its influence on the sleep-wake circadian rhythm

Sleep-wake circadian rhythm disturbances are a common problem associated to aging. Although this problem can be caused by several factors, low levels of the indol melatonin are related with these alterations. Our aim was to evaluate if the consumption of cereals enriched with tryptophan, the precursor of both serotonin and melatonin, can enhance sleep problems in elderly people. Participants (n=12; aged 55-67 yr) were selected from Elderly people University of The University of Extremadura. During all the assay participants wore a wrist actimeter and they filled every week an STAI anxiety test. Data were collected following this schedule: Control week: participants ingested a control cereal both at breakfast anddinner (22.5 mg tryptophan/ 30g product per dose); Treatment Week: volunteers consumed a tryptophan enriched cereal both at breakfast and dinner (60mg tryptophan/30g product per dose); Post-treatment week: participants ingested their habitual diet. We observed a decrease in sleep latency (p 0.05) and sleep fragmentation (p<0.001); on the other hand, an increase in actual sleep time (p<0.01), sleep efficiency (p<0.01) and immobile time (p<0.01) were detected. With respect to the anxiety test, there was an improvement in the state of anxiety. In conclusion, through a tryptophanenriched diet age related sleep problems can be improved.